Republican Lawmakers Demand DOJ Investigation into New Epstein-Associated Assault Allegations
Key Development: Republican lawmakers have formally requested the Department of Justice investigate sexual assault allegations made by Sarah Kellen, a former assistant to the late Jeffrey Epstein.
The Allegations
In a closed-door interview with the House Oversight Committee in late May, Kellen testified that she was assaulted by two separate individuals in the early 2000s:
- Frédéric Fekkai, a prominent hairstylist
- Philip Levine, a former Florida politician and businessman
Neither Fekkai nor Levine have been charged, and both parties deny any wrongdoing.
The Congressional Action
In a letter sent to Acting Attorney General Todd Blanche, the lawmakers urged the DOJ to:
- Use all available investigative tools
- Consider offering witness immunity to uncover the full scope of potential crimes
Representative James Comer stated: "Kellen provided new information crucial to our investigation... The oversight committee received serious allegations of criminal misconduct involving two individuals."
Background on Sarah Kellen
- Worked for Epstein from 2001 for over a decade
- Has publicly described herself as a victim of his abuse
- Her testimony is part of a broader congressional probe into how the federal government handled the Epstein and Maxwell cases
Jeffrey Epstein died in 2019 while awaiting trial on federal sex-trafficking charges.
Denials from the Accused
"Mr Fekkai never abused anyone. He never participated in any illegal behavior." — Spokesperson for Frédéric Fekkai
A spokesperson for Philip Levine told CNN that he had "a brief intimate encounter with another consenting adult" and that any allegation suggesting otherwise "is not true."